Abstract

The building industry keeps growing towards industrialization in construction by implementing Industrialized Building System (IBS). The components of IBS Structure which are floors, walls, columns, beams and roofs are assembled and erected on the site by properly joints to form the final units. The present study deals with the evaluation of precast wall connections subjected to inplane lateral ground movement. For this purpose, 3D finite element model of precast walls and connection is developed using finite element model. The interaction between casting concrete and precast concrete as well as reinforcements and concrete is modelled with nonlinear stress-strain behavior, to consider the yielding of steel and concrete. The model was subjected to lateral ground movement and the performance of connection is evaluated in terms of the stress, deformation and absolute plastic strain.

The Industrialized Building System (IBS) was recently introduced to minimize the time and cost of project construction. Accordingly, ensuring the integration of the connection of precast components in IBS structures is an important factor that ensures stability of buildings subjected to dynamic loads from earthquakes, vehicles, and machineries. However, structural engineers still lack knowledge on the proper connection and detailed joints of IBS structure construction. Therefore, this study proposes a special precast concrete wall-to-wall connection system for dynamic loads that resists multidirectional imposed loads and reduces vibration effects (PI2014701723). This system is designed to connect two adjacent precast wall panels by using two steel U-shaped channels (i.e., male and female joints). During casting, each joint is adapted for incorporation into a respective wall panel after considering the following conditions: one side of the steel channel opens into the thickness face of the panel; a U-shaped rubber is implemented between the two channels to dissipate the vibration effect; and bolts and nuts are used to create an extension between the two U-shaped male and female steel channels. The developed finite element model of the precast wall is subjected to cyclic loads to evaluate the performance of the proposed connection during an imposed dynamic load. Connection performance is then compared with conventional connections based on the energy dissipation, stress, deformation, and concrete damage in the plastic range. The proposed precast connection is capable of exceeding the energy absorption of precast walls subjected to dynamic load, thereby improving its resistance behavior in all principal directions.

Final construction project cost is significantly determined by construction rate. The Industrialized Building System (IBS) was promoted to enhance the importance of prefabrication technology rather than conventional methods in construction. Ensuring the stability of a building constructed by using IBS is a challenging issue. Accordingly, the connections in a prefabricated building have a basic, natural, and essential role in providing the best continuity among the members of the building. Deficiencies of conventional precast connections were observed when precast buildings experience a large induced load, such as earthquakes and other disasters. Thus, researchers aim to determine the behavior of precast concrete structure with a specific type of connection. To clarify this problem, this study investigates the capacity behavior of precast concrete panel connections for industrial buildings with a new type of precast wall-to-wall connection (i.e., U-shaped steel channel connection). This capacity behavior is compared with the capacity behavior of precast concrete panel connections for industrial buildings that used a common approach (i.e., loop connection), which is subjected to monotonic loading as in-plane and out-of-plane loading by developing a finite element model. The principal stress distribution, deformation of concrete panels and welded wire mesh (BRC) reinforcements, plastic strain trend in the concrete panels and connections, and crack propagations are investigated for the aforementioned connection. Pushover analysis revealed that loop connections have significant defects in terms of strength for in-plane and out-of-plane loads at three translational degrees of freedom compared with the U-shaped steel channel connection.

Fillet welded joints are commonly used in steel structures for various engineering applications such as buildings, bridges, railways, ships, and marine structures. Fillet welded joints are generally subjected to static and fatigue loading, resulting in failures of such welded joints. A number of experimental and numerical investigations on the strength and failure behaviour of fillet welded joints have been published. This paper presents a comprehensive review of research results on the static strength, fatigue life, and thermal performance of fillet welded joints. The review covers the various influential factors, such as loading direction, weld geometry, grades of steel, filler materials, welding process, weld penetration, strength mismatch of weld metal, and post-welded treatment. In total, 100 papers were critically reviewed, which were published from 1970 till date. The key findings and research developments on fillet welded joints are summarised. It was found that the transverse fillet welded joints have a higher static strength than the longitudinal fillet welded joints. Filler materials, post-welded treatment, and penetration of weld metal can offer significant strength enhancements in terms of their static and fatigue strength. Lastly, research gaps have been found in the existing body of knowledge, which will help guide future research.